Collection Overview

The arrangement scheme for the record group was imposed during processing in the absence of an original order. Materials are arranged by subject and/or creator. Their order is based off of the Nazi war criminals as well as other various legal documents.

Abstract

The documents reflect an attempt to denaturalize, deport, and/or extradite Nazi war criminals in the United States to European countries or the Soviet Union, to be prosecuted for crimes against humanity. The collection of documents is comprised of legal briefs and other documents used in court proceedings, depositions, witness statements, original Nazi documents used as evidence in court, court rulings and orders, newspaper articles, and other documents relating to prosecution of Nazi war criminals in the United States.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The record group is comprised of postwar legal documents and newspaper articles from the United States depicting the attempts to denaturalize, deport, and/or extradite Nazi war criminals from the United States to European countries or the Soviet Union, to be prosecuted for crimes against humanity. The legal documents present the legal proceedings of the prosecution as they argued to have the war criminals denaturalized, deported, or extradited. Some of the legal documents provide a brief history of the crimes committed by the defendants, and how these war criminals came to the United States and evaded prosecution for many years. Multiple court appearances were made concerning each accused Nazi war criminal. The alleged Nazi war criminals include Otto Ambros, Basil Artishenko, Paul Herman Bluemel, Boleslavs Bogdanovs, Ildefansas Bucmys, General Leon Degrelle, Anatoly Hrusitzky, Konrad Kalejs, Serge Kowlachuk (Serhij Kowalczuk), Georg Leibbrandt, Karl Linnas, Boleslavs Maikovskis, and Otto Albrecht Alfred von Bolschwing. The newspaper articles included follow the progress of these various legal proceedings of each accused Nazi war criminal.

Materials within the record group include briefs and other legal documents used in court proceedings, depositions, witness statements, original Nazi documents used as evidence in court, court rulings and orders, newspaper articles, and other documents relating to prosecution of Nazi war criminals in the United States. Materials are digitized.

Collection Historical Note

When World War II ended, there were millions of refugees in Europe. Many of them had been victims of the Nazis, survivors of Nazi concentration camps, or persons who had been forced to leave their homes. Among this large mass of people were also some of the Nazi officials who had assisted in mass murder and persecution.

In order to help the millions of true refugees, the United States enacted special immigration laws in 1948 and 1953 which allowed large numbers of refugees to come to the United States without regard to traditional immigration quota restrictions. These special immigration laws specifically excluded any person who had assisted the Nazis in persecuting civilians. However, Nazi criminals were able to enter the United States under these special immigration laws by lying about their activities during the period from 1933 to 1945.

Among the Nazi war criminals who entered the United States by misrepresentation or concealing their wartime activities were concentration camp guards, Nazi police officials, and Nazi government officials.

Jeffrey Mausner worked as a Trial Attorney for the United States Justice Department.

Documents associated with Nazi war criminal Boleslavs Maikovskis. Maikovskis was the Chief of Police of the city of Rezekne, Latvia during the Nazi occupation. When he applied for his visa to come to the United States, Maikovskis misrepresented and concealed that he was police chief, claiming that he worked as a bookkeeper for the Latvian Railway Department from 1941 to 1944.

Witnesses testified that Maikovskis gave the order to round up all of the Jews in the Rezekne district and have them shot, and that Maikovskis personally participated in the murder of hundreds of Jews. These witnesses testified that Maikovskis and the policemen working under him rounded up the Jews, took them into the mountains, and shot them into ditches. Several hundred people were killed in one day. Entire families were murdered.

Maikovskis also gave the order to arrest all of the residents of the village of Audrini, to burn their houses, and to have them shot to death. Maikovskis and his men rounded up all the inhabitants of the village of Audrini, took them into the mountains, and shot them. Every inhabitant of the village, including all of the children, were murdered. Maikovskis and his men burned the entire village of Audrini to the ground.

The Immigration Court (Judge Francis Lyons) ordered that Maikovskis would not be deported from the United States. However, the Justice Department appealed that order, and it was reversed by the Board of Immigration Appeals, which unanimously ordered Maikovskis deported from the U.S. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the order of deportation, and the United States Supreme Court denied certiorari, making the order of deportation final. Maikovskis went to Germany, where he was imprisoned and placed on trial for mass murder. However, the trial in Germany was not completed, because after several years of trial and imprisonment, the German court determined that Maikovskis was incompetent to stand further trial.

Subject/Index Terms:

Boleslavs Maikovskis

Jeffrey N. Mausner

US Department of Justice

Rezekne (Latvia)

Stirnience (Latvia)

Riga (Latvia)

Riga (Latvia: ghetto)

Riga ghetto

Latvia

Soviet Union

Latvian Security Auxiliary Police

Security and police forces, Latvia

Concentration Camp Guards

German occupation regime in Latvia, 1941 -- 1945

Liquidation of ghettos

Sturmbannführer

Board of Immigration Appeals, United States

Displaced Persons Act

Displaced Persons Act of 1948 (United States)

International Refugee Organization (IRO)

Department Office of Special Investigations (OSI)

Collaboration with Nazi Germany in the Second World War

Execution of Jews

Nazi persecution of Jews

Nazi-perpetrated massacres

Nazi-perpetuated mass shootings

mass graves

Extermination of Jews

Nazi crimes against humanity, peace, and war crimes

Final Solution

Final Solution to the Jewish Question in Europe, 1942 -- 1945

Executions, firing squad

Political prisoners of Nazi German prisons

war crimes trials

War crimes trials--Post-WWII

Nazi Germany, Central Government

German Police and Security forces, 1939 --1945

Nazi Police Officials

Nazi War Criminals

Nazi Government Officials

Immigrant Visa

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (United States of America)

Immigration and Naturalization Service, United States of America

Deportation from the United States

Illegal Immigration

Immigration to United States

Immigration to the United States, postwar

United States court proceedings

Legal practices

Legal document

legal correspondence

Legal defense

Legal deposition

Newspaper Article

newspaper clippings

English, language

Documents in English language

German, language

Documents in German language

Audrini (Latvia)

Creators:

United States of America Department of Justice (postwar)

US Department of Justice

Jeffrey Mausner (1960's--1980's)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 1: RG-80.13.01, New York Post Article, May 15, 1974

An article published in the New York Post regarding efforts taken to have Nazi war criminal Boleslavs Maikovskis deported from the United States.

The government's memorandum of law in support of its appeal by certification of the immigration judge's denial of an order for the taking of depositions in Latvia pertaining to the deportation of Nazi war criminal Boleslavs Maikovskis.

Transcript of the oral argument given by Jeffrey N. Mausner and Maikovskis' attorney before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), regarding the taking of depositions given in Latvia, in the case against Nazi war criminal Boleslavs Maikovskis.

An order issued by Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) reversing an order given by an Immigration Judge and ordering depositions in Latvia regarding the Nazi war criminal Boleslavs Maikovskis.

Subject/Index Terms:

Boleslavs Maikovskis

Jeffrey N. Mausner

US Department of Justice

Washington D.C. (United States)

war crimes trials

War crimes trials--Post-WWII

Nazi Germany, Central Government

survivors of concentration camps

Rezekne (Latvia)

Riga (Latvia)

Riga (Latvia: ghetto)

Riga ghetto

Latvia

Soviet Union

Concentration Camp Guards

Stirnience (Latvia)

German occupation regime in Latvia, 1941 -- 1945

Liquidation of ghettos

Sturmbannführer

Board of Immigration Appeals, United States

Displaced Persons Act

Displaced Persons Act of 1948 (United States)

International Refugee Organization (IRO)

Department Office of Special Investigations (OSI)

Collaboration with Nazi Germany in the Second World War

Execution of Jews

Nazi persecution of Jews

Nazi-perpetrated massacres

Nazi-perpetuated mass shootings

mass graves

Extermination of Jews

Nazi crimes against humanity, peace, and war crimes

Final Solution

Final Solution to the Jewish Question in Europe, 1942 -- 1945

German Police and Security forces, 1939 --1945

Nazi Police Officials

Nazi War Criminals

Nazi Government Officials

Immigrant Visa

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (United States of America)

Immigration and Naturalization Service, United States of America

Deportation from the United States

Illegal Immigration

Immigration to United States

Immigration to the United States, postwar

United States court proceedings

Legal practices

Legal document

Legal deposition

Legal defense

English, language

Documents in English language

Audrini (Latvia)

Creators:

Board of Immigration Appeals, United States of America

United States of America Department of Justice (postwar)

US Department of Justice

Jeffrey Mausner (1960's--1980's)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 8: RG-80.13.08, Deposition of Anton Zhukovskis taken by Mausner, May 18, 1981

The transcript of the legal deposition of Anton Zhukovskis taken by Jeffrey N. Mausner in Riga, Latvia, regarding Nazi war criminal Boleslavs Maikovskis. Zhukovskis had been a policeman in Rezekne, Latvia, serving under Maikovskis' command.

An article published by the Associated Press regarding the deportation and war crime trial against Nazi war criminal Boleslavs Maikovskis.

Subject/Index Terms:

Boleslavs Maikovskis

Jeffrey N. Mausner

US Department of Justice

Mineola (New York, United States)

Dortmund (Germany)

Rezekne (Latvia)

Stirnience (Latvia)

Riga (Latvia)

Riga (Latvia: ghetto)

Riga ghetto

Latvia

Soviet Union

Latvian Security Auxiliary Police

Security and police forces, Latvia

Concentration Camp Guards

German occupation regime in Latvia, 1941 -- 1945

Liquidation of ghettos

Sturmbannführer

Board of Immigration Appeals, United States

Displaced Persons Act

Displaced Persons Act of 1948 (United States)

International Refugee Organization (IRO)

Department Office of Special Investigations (OSI)

Collaboration with Nazi Germany in the Second World War

Execution of Jews

Nazi persecution of Jews

Nazi-perpetrated massacres

Nazi-perpetuated mass shootings

mass graves

Extermination of Jews

Nazi crimes against humanity, peace, and war crimes

Final Solution

Final Solution to the Jewish Question in Europe, 1942 -- 1945

Executions, firing squad

Political prisoners of Nazi German prisons

war crimes trials

War crimes trials--Post-WWII

Nazi Germany, Central Government

German Police and Security forces, 1939 --1945

Nazi Police Officials

Nazi War Criminals

Nazi Government Officials

Immigrant Visa

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (United States of America)

Immigration and Naturalization Service, United States of America

Deportation from the United States

Illegal Immigration

Immigration to United States

Immigration to the United States, postwar

United States court proceedings

Legal practices

Newspaper Article

newspaper clippings

English, language

Documents in English language

Audrini (Latvia)

Creators:

United States of America Department of Justice (postwar)

US Department of Justice

Jeffrey Mausner (1960's--1980's)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 38: RG-80.13.38, Letter from Oberstaatsanwalt to Mausner, December 9, 1990

A letter from Oberstaatsanwalt to Jeffrey N. Mausner regarding the criminal proceedings against Nazi war criminal Boleslavs Maikovskis. The letter is a request for Mausner to come to Dortmund to testify against Maikovskis. The letter is typed in German.

Subject/Index Terms:

Boleslavs Maikovskis

Jeffrey N. Mausner

US Department of Justice

Dortmund (Germany)

Rezekne (Latvia)

Stirnience (Latvia)

Riga (Latvia)

Riga (Latvia: ghetto)

Riga ghetto

Latvia

Soviet Union

Latvian Security Auxiliary Police

Security and police forces, Latvia

Concentration Camp Guards

German occupation regime in Latvia, 1941 -- 1945

Liquidation of ghettos

Sturmbannführer

Board of Immigration Appeals, United States

Displaced Persons Act

Displaced Persons Act of 1948 (United States)

International Refugee Organization (IRO)

Department Office of Special Investigations (OSI)

Collaboration with Nazi Germany in the Second World War

Execution of Jews

Nazi persecution of Jews

Nazi-perpetrated massacres

Nazi-perpetuated mass shootings

mass graves

Extermination of Jews

Nazi crimes against humanity, peace, and war crimes

Final Solution

Final Solution to the Jewish Question in Europe, 1942 -- 1945

Executions, firing squad

Political prisoners of Nazi German prisons

war crimes trials

War crimes trials--Post-WWII

Nazi Germany, Central Government

German Police and Security forces, 1939 --1945

Nazi Police Officials

Nazi War Criminals

Nazi Government Officials

Immigrant Visa

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (United States of America)

Immigration and Naturalization Service, United States of America

Deportation from the United States

Illegal Immigration

Immigration to United States

Immigration to the United States, postwar

United States court proceedings

Legal practices

official correspondence

legal correspondence

postwar correspondence

German, language

Documents in German language

Audrini (Latvia)

Creators:

United States of America Department of Justice (postwar)

US Department of Justice

Jeffrey Mausner (1960's--1980's)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 39: RG-80.13.39, Letter from Landgericht to Mausner, October 23, 1990

A letter from Richter am Landgericht to Jeffrey N. Mausner regarding the criminal trial against Nazi war criminal Boleslavs Maikovskis. The letter is a request for Mausner to come and testify at the trial of Maikovskis, assuring the lawyer that his travel expenses will be covered. The letter is typed in German.

Subject/Index Terms:

Boleslavs Maikovskis

Jeffrey N. Mausner

US Department of Justice

Dortmund (Germany)

Rezekne (Latvia)

Stirnience (Latvia)

Riga (Latvia)

Riga (Latvia: ghetto)

Riga ghetto

Latvia

Soviet Union

Latvian Security Auxiliary Police

Security and police forces, Latvia

Concentration Camp Guards

German occupation regime in Latvia, 1941 -- 1945

Liquidation of ghettos

Sturmbannführer

Board of Immigration Appeals, United States

Displaced Persons Act

Displaced Persons Act of 1948 (United States)

International Refugee Organization (IRO)

Department Office of Special Investigations (OSI)

Collaboration with Nazi Germany in the Second World War

Execution of Jews

Nazi persecution of Jews

Nazi-perpetrated massacres

Nazi-perpetuated mass shootings

mass graves

Extermination of Jews

Nazi crimes against humanity, peace, and war crimes

Final Solution

Final Solution to the Jewish Question in Europe, 1942 -- 1945

Executions, firing squad

Political prisoners of Nazi German prisons

war crimes trials

War crimes trials--Post-WWII

Nazi Germany, Central Government

German Police and Security forces, 1939 --1945

Nazi Police Officials

Nazi War Criminals

Nazi Government Officials

Immigrant Visa

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (United States of America)

Immigration and Naturalization Service, United States of America

Deportation from the United States

Illegal Immigration

Immigration to United States

Immigration to the United States, postwar

United States court proceedings

Legal practices

official correspondence

legal correspondence

postwar correspondence

German, language

Documents in German language

Audrini (Latvia)

Creators:

United States of America Department of Justice (postwar)

Jeffrey Mausner (1960's--1980's)

US Department of Justice

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 40: RG-80.13.40, Certified Translation from German to English re Mausner testimony, October 23, 1990

A certified translation of a letter to Jeffrey N. Mausner, requesting his testimony against Nazi war criminal Boleslavs Maikovski. The letter has been translated from German to English.

A German newspaper article written about the testimony of Jeffrey N. Mausner at the war crimes trial of Nazi war criminal Boleslavs Maikovskis. The file contains the article as well as an English translation of the article.

A collection of articles published in the Los Angeles Times regarding the war crimes trial of Nazi war criminal Boleslavs Maikovskis. The file also includes a letter to the editor from Jeffrey N. Mausner, calling the first article biased and extremely inaccurate.

A copy of an article regarding Nazi war criminal Boleslavs Maikovskis. The article was originally posted on the website of German politician Winfried Nachtwei. The file contains the German copy of the article, as well as an English translation.